Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsmarwired’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsmarwired’, characterized by its semi-upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large bright red and white to light yellow bi-colored flowers; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPETSMARWIRED’.

PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier,The Netherlands on Aug. 5, 2022, application number 2022/1858. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Dopetsmarwired’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact, freely branching andearly-flowering Petunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2020 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selectionof Petunia X hybrida identified as code number TT20-K0785, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia Xhybrida identified as code number TT20-K0810, not patented, as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inRheinberg, Germany in May, 2022.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2022 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dopetsmarwired’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Dopetsmarwired’ as a new and distinctPetunia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large bright red and white to light yellow bi-colored        flowers.    -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the female parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more upright than and not as        trailing as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are bright red and white        to light yellow bi-colored whereas flowers of plants of the        female parent selection are pink and yellow bi-colored.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the male parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than and not as        compact as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are bright red and white        to light yellow bi-colored whereas flowers of plants of the male        parent selection are solid pink in color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida‘Amore Queen of Hearts’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Petunia and ‘Amore Queen of Hearts’ differ primarilyin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are smaller than plants of ‘Amore        Queen of Hearts’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more upright than and not as        trailing as plants of ‘Amore Queen of Hearts’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have longer leaves than plants of        ‘Amore Queen of Hearts’.    -   4. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Amore Queen of Hearts’.    -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are bright red and white        to light yellow bi-colored whereas flowers of plants of ‘Amore        Queen of Hearts’ are dark red and light yellow bi-colored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Dopetsmarwired’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and undercultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18 C andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were twelve weeks old when thephotograph was taken and 25 weeks old when the description was taken. Inthe following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘Dopetsmarwired’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT20-K0785, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT20-K0810, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20 C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20 C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20 C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20 C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 155B in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Semi-upright and uniformly mounding            plant habit; freely branching habit with about six to eight            primary lateral branches each with about eight to nine            secondary branches developing after pinching; vigorous            growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 22.5            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 23.2            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 74.5 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 37 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144B.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 144A; at the internodes, close to            144A to 144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 5.1 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Spatulate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            leathery; semi-glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A; venation,            close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 143B; venation, close to 144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong; firm. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 448 flowers and flower buds developing per plant            during the flowering season; flowers face mostly upright to            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the spring and summer in Germany; early flowering habit,            plants typically beginning flowering about nine weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 150B and 46A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.3 cm by 5.6 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.6 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, proximally.—About 6.8 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from            throat): About 2.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.4 cm. Petal            shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat            texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy. Tube texture and            luster: Rippled; semi-glossy. Color: Petal lobe, when            opening, upper surface: Star-shaped pattern, close to 46A            and 154B. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface:            Star-shaped pattern, close to 47A and 154C. Petal lobe,            fully opened, upper surface: Star-shaped pattern, close to            45C and 155C (distally) and 3C (proximally); venation, close            to 154A; color does not change with subsequent development.            Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Star-shaped            pattern, close to 45D and 155C (distally) and 3C            (proximally); venation, close to 154A; color does not change            with subsequent development. Flower throat: Close to 1B;            venation, close to 151B. Flower tube: Close to 46B;            venation, close to 149A.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a            tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter:            About 2.3 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Decurrent.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 143A. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 143C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 143C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 2 cm. Filament color: Close to 155B.            Anther length: About 1.3 mm. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther            color: Close to 158B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:            Close to 158A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 2.2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style            color: Close to 145A. Stigma diameter: About 1.4 mm. Stigma            shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 149D. Ovary color:            Close to 143B. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About 24            during the flowering season. Length: About 5.9 mm. Diameter:            About 3.8 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            161C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 20. Length: About            0.7 mm. Diameter: About 0.6 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 166A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain, temperatures    ranging from about 5 C to about 40 C and to be suitable for USDA    Hardiness Zone 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Petunia plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named‘Dopetsmarwired’ as illustrated and described.